"Mr President, word from our embassy in Cairo. The Egyptian military just closed off all entry points to the city. Road, rail and air travel have been suspended and local media report that rioting is spreading across parts of Cairo. It seems that the Egyptian government has forced the media to report any virus related violence in the country as riots in order to avoid a panic. Ambassador Jameson has urged that all consular staff be evacuated at the earliest opportunity due to the situation. They feel their position is becoming untenable and that Egyptian security forces can no longer guarantee the safety of the embassy." A young female aide from the State Department informed the President.

"Very well. Tell the ambassador that helicopters will be dispatched to Cairo to evacuate him and his staff if the situation there deteriorates further. Keep me updated on the situation, the last thing we need is another Benghazi." Jim replied as the pounding in his head grew worse. He looked at the alarm clock next to his bed. 3:39 AM. An ungodly hour be woken up at but he had insisted his staff wake him for any important updates. He missed his old bedroom in the White House, much more spacious and far less basic that the bedroom Mount Weather afforded him.

He rolled over in a vain attempt to get some more rest. He was woken again less than two hours later, this time by his Chief of Staff.

"Sorry Mr President, I know it's early but we have an update on the Cairo situation" Robert said stifling a yawn.

"I guess if it was good news you wouldn't be waking me would you?" Jim replied still half sleeping.

"Cairo has gone to Hell in the past hour to put it bluntly. The Presidential Palace is on fire, State TV has gone off the air and there are reports of people being gunned down trying to flee the city. We can't contact anyone from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry and the only information we are now getting from the country is coming from the internet. Ambassador Jameson has asked that you call him right away" Robert said, his eyes bleary and fighting to stay open.

Jim sat up and grabbed the phone at the side of his bed.

"Mr President!" The voice on the other side of the line sounded panicked but glad to hear the Presidents voice."it's absolute pandemonium in Cairo. The whole city is going up in flames. Those things are surrounding the embassy. Thousands of them...hold on sir...my security chief just told me they're breaking into the compound now. I don't know how long we can hold them off!"

"I'll have helicopters sent to take you and everyone there to safety just hang on !"

"There are over a thousand people here. Most of them are American citizens who were on vacation and came for shelter after everything went to hell. We really need extraction as soon as possible. There's more of them than we originally though, we're gonna be overrun...oh dear god !"

"What's happening ?" Jim demanded. He felt powerless as he listened to the ambassador cry out in fear. Gunshots were ringing out over the phone. Then screaming. So much screaming.

Then silence.

"My god..." Jim said. He almost forgot he was holding the phone. He hung up and went to take a shower. I want a meeting of the National Security Council in one hour. I don't care if they're asleep wake them!" The President called to his chief of staff as he went to get ready.

"This is gonna be a hell of a day" Jim muttered as he looked into the bathroom mirror, and saw an old man staring back. The job was taking its toll on him.